NEWS: It’s All Bad News (And Soccer)

Crisis continues in Iraq. ISIS forces remain strongly entrenched in Iraq, even as the U.S. sends 300 troops to help stabilize the country. Meanwhile, Iran’s Supreme Leader spoke out against foreign intervention in Iraq, dampening hopes of U.S.-Iran cooperation on the issue. A UN report released on the 24th estimates that at least 1,075 people have been killed in the past two weeks, with most believed to be civilians. That number, however, is the bare minimum and it is believed many more have been killed.

Sudan frees woman sentenced to death only to rearrest her. Meriam Ibrahim was arrested and charged with apostasy after marrying a Christian, for which she was sentenced to death. Huge international outcry followed the decision, and on June 23rd Ibrahim’s sentence was overturned and she was released. But she was rearrested the next day following an alleged “angry confrontation” with authorities at the airport, where she and her family were planning on leaving Sudan.

Final round of group stages underway in World Cup. Spain is out, while the U.S. holds out hope that they will advance into the next round after a 2-2 tie with Portugal. The Netherlands continued to dominate Group B, having beaten all competitors. Argentina was able to win over Iran, while Algeria’s win over South Korea made it the first African team to make four goals in a World Cup game.

Al Jazeera journalists sentenced in Egypt. Peter Greste, Mohamed Fahmy, and Bahar Mohamed have been held by Egyptian authorities for nearly a year, after being arrested while covering the ousting of then President Morsi. Greste and Fahmy were sentenced to seven years in prison, while Mohamed was sentenced to ten. All were brought up on charges of reporting false news and aiding the Muslim Brotherhood, with an additional three years handed down to Mohamed for having ammunition on his person at the time of arrest.

Clashes in West Bank continue. The unrest began after three Israeli teenagers went missing while hitchhiking. While Israeli forces claim to be searching for the boys, Palestinians have seen an increase in arrests, with hundreds currently being held by Israeli authorities. The death toll from the wave of clashes between forces and Palestinian crowds now sits at three.

Boko Haram continues abductions in Nigeria. 90 people—60 girls and 31 boys—were taken in northeastern Nigeria in an attack that left four villagers dead. Although reports are difficult to verify, the group still holds hundreds of kidnapping victims and the Nigerian government has been unable to take action to bring them home safely.